Musäus studied theology at Jena but turned instead to literature. His first book, Grandison der Zweite, 3 vol. (1760–62), revised as Der deutsche Grandison (1781–82; “The German Grandison”), was a satire of Samuel Richardson’s hero Sir Charles Grandison, who had many sentimental admirers in Germany. In 1763 Musäus was made master of the court pages at Weimar and later (1770) became professor at the Weimar Gymnasium.

A second book, Physiognomische Reisen, 4 vol. (1778–79; “Physiognomical Travels”), a satire on Johann Lavater’s work linking physiognomy to character, had many enthusiasts in Europe. His Volksmärchen der DeutschenVolksmärchen der DeutschenOK per #1, 5 vol. (1782–86; “Fairy Tales of the Germans”), because it is written in a satirical vein, is was not considered genuine folklore.folklorestyle change- ok by some 19th-century critics, although these tales were republished throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and enjoyed great popularity.Unable to find text to verify this.